What is RackList's probe network?

The probe network is a community-run set of monitoring agents distributed across continents that periodically measure latency, packet loss and reachability towards every listed hosting provider. The aggregated data feeds the uptime score on each host page.

Can I run a probe agent?

Yes. The probe agent is a lightweight binary you can run on a VPS, a Raspberry Pi or a home server. Submit your application from this page; once approved you contribute to the public uptime dataset and earn community recognition.

Are probe measurements public?

All aggregated measurements are public per host. Raw probe data is available to provider owners through their dashboard and to the public on a 90-day rolling window. RackList never exposes probe agent IP addresses or operator identities.

Probe Network

A collaborative monitoring network where hosting providers measure and are measured by each other - delivering independently verified latency and uptime metrics.

How It Works

Deploy Agent

Member hosts deploy a lightweight Docker agent that runs continuous measurements every 5 minutes against other members of the network.

Collect Metrics

The agents measure latency, packet loss and uptime. All data is aggregated and cross-validated by the network to ensure accuracy.

Earn Badge

Hosts that pass verification thresholds earn the "Verified Latency" badge - a trust signal visible on their profile to all visitors.

Benefits

For Hosting Providers

Objective, third-party data proving your infrastructure quality
A trust badge that differentiates you from competitors
A dedicated metrics dashboard to monitor your performance

For Visitors

Independently verified metrics - no self-reported data
Reliable latency and uptime figures to compare providers
A transparent trust layer backed by real measurements

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply to join the Probe Network?

Any hosting provider with a verified (claimed) listing on RackList can apply. After review, approved members receive the agent to deploy.

How does the agent work technically?

The agent is a lightweight Docker container that runs ICMP and HTTP probes every 5 minutes against other network members. It reports results to RackList's API where they are aggregated.

Is the Probe Network free?

Yes, participation in the Probe Network is completely free. It is a collaborative initiative to raise transparency across the hosting industry.

Is my data kept confidential?

Raw probe results are processed and aggregated before being displayed. Only aggregated metrics (average latency, uptime percentage) are shown publicly. Detailed data is available only to the host owner.

Join the Probe Network

Help build a more transparent hosting industry with independently verified metrics.

Claim your listing to apply